Scottish clubs can postpone league match for European play-offs

Scottish clubs will be able to postpone a league match to prepare for a play-off round tie in European competition from next season.

Previously postponements had to be agreed by both clubs but now a team playing in Europe can unilaterally delay a game.

It only applies to matches on the weekend of 22 and 23 August 2025, between the first and second legs of play-off ties in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

Next season the Scottish Premiership winners – likely to be Celtic – will enter the Champions League at the play-off stage.

The second place side, which looks set to be Rangers, will enter in the second qualifying round, while this season’s Scottish Cup winners, or third-place side if Celtic win the cup, will enter the Europa League at the play-off stage.

The change was approved by the SPFL board after a working group recommended altering the rules.

Managers and club owners have continually stressed the difficulty of balancing European qualifiers in the early part of the season with domestic duties, particularly with other leagues moving games to help clubs in their own leagues.

The league body’s chief operating officer Calum Beattie said the SPFL is “very keen” to support clubs but stressed options to move games are “very limited” due to the “extremely congested” schedule.

“This new policy has received extremely positive feedback from our clubs on the SPFL Competitions Working Group which believe it will be beneficial in their aims of reaching the league phase of Uefa competitions, and we’re pleased to be introducing it for next season,” Beattie added.